Do something today that your future self will thank you for.
– Author Unknown
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 (DAYS 800 – 843)
With each milestone I am fortunate enough to celebrate, I have to be honest and say that at the onset of this great journey it was a bit difficult to even fathom the idea of being on the road for 800 days. And, while I may have taken a hiatus in Korea to replenish–not necessarily a battered bank account–but more of a diminished one, it has allowed me to take time to refocus a bit, rest up, and take an inventory of what items are on their last leg after more than two-years. I’ve also had time to evaluate even more the time in my life that I set out and I think that I’ve come up with 10 reasons why traveling in your 30s as a vagabond or even more of a short-term traveler is beneficial and why you are ready for it!
With each milestone I am fortunate enough to celebrate, I have to be honest and say that at the onset of this great journey it was a bit difficult to even fathom the idea of being on the road for 800 days. And, while I may have taken a hiatus in Korea to replenish–not necessarily a battered bank account–but more of a diminished one, it has allowed me to take time to refocus a bit, rest up, and take an inventory of what items are on their last leg after more than two-years. I’ve also had time to evaluate even more the time in my life that I set out and I think that I’ve come up with 10 reasons why traveling in your 30s as a vagabond or even more of a short-term traveler is beneficial and why you are ready for it!
10. YOU’RE READY FOR ADVENTURE: Most likely you have completed the status quo of the social norm: college diploma, independence, and experience.
9. YOU KNOW YOUR INTERESTS: By this stage in life you realize whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, a beach bum, or somewhere in the middle. You aren’t a follower, nor do you waste time, money, or energy on things that aren’t your cup o’ tea.
8. LIFE EVALUATION: View this not a quarter-life crisis, but as an opportunity to evaluate your life. Are you happy with your career field? What changes do you feel you should make? When you have the freedom and luxury of time, you will be surprised at how this so-called loneliness is a blessing in disguise for many reasons.
7. STILL YOUNG ENOUGH TO BE ADVENTUROUS: Typically the average 30-something is still in great enough shape to walk for miles, overcome altitude sickness, and are less susceptible to climates of high-heat or frigid temperature.
6. MORE MONEY: One saying that I’ve heard is: “You’re 30s are just like your 20s but with money.” Once again after hearing all of the stories of those that “Major in Debt,” I hope that you’re one that has control over your finances and has learned through adversity how to save, and when to spend.
9. YOU KNOW YOUR INTERESTS: By this stage in life you realize whether you are an outdoor enthusiast, a beach bum, or somewhere in the middle. You aren’t a follower, nor do you waste time, money, or energy on things that aren’t your cup o’ tea.
8. LIFE EVALUATION: View this not a quarter-life crisis, but as an opportunity to evaluate your life. Are you happy with your career field? What changes do you feel you should make? When you have the freedom and luxury of time, you will be surprised at how this so-called loneliness is a blessing in disguise for many reasons.
7. STILL YOUNG ENOUGH TO BE ADVENTUROUS: Typically the average 30-something is still in great enough shape to walk for miles, overcome altitude sickness, and are less susceptible to climates of high-heat or frigid temperature.
6. MORE MONEY: One saying that I’ve heard is: “You’re 30s are just like your 20s but with money.” Once again after hearing all of the stories of those that “Major in Debt,” I hope that you’re one that has control over your finances and has learned through adversity how to save, and when to spend.
5. PACKING WITH MORE OF A PURPOSE: This goes hand-in-hand with knowing your interests, because once again you know what you have lived with in the past and over that time hopefully you have learned what you can live without (whether that has been by choice or not).
4. APPRECIATING MATURITY: Hopefully, you have matured through many of life’s experiences and you have become more confident in your decision-making. You’re at an age where you know what interests you have, and almost more importantly you know and understand what you don’t want to waste time or money on. This doesn’t’ mean avoiding or ignoring new experiences, but I’ve seen enough temples or other sites that they just don’t interest me nearly as much as someone else.
3. CONFIDENCE: Once you’ve made the decision to take a sabbatical, quit your job, or leave in direction without a return ticket, that decision brings confidence and confidence is attractive on every level–from relationships to a professional setting–this is a life skill that will stay with you and continue to develop in your adventures.
2. PROFESSIONALISM: You have had a chance to experience the corporate setting or gain experience in a career field, which makes now an excellent time to take those skills on the road and turn them in to commodities. Even those skills that may not be viewed as valuable (i.e. construction, restaurant, barista, etc) these are still skills that often will pay more when considering cost of living in other areas around the world. Imagine making the same wages, but living on a fraction of your earnings, all while surfing every day in Brazil or diving off of Bali.
1. EXPERIENCE GAINED IS PRICELESS: When you stop and think what questions and things are asked in a job interview: What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Do you feel you are a good communicator? Can you work under pressure? Etc and etc. Once you leave behind those so-called securities and overcome the fear and anxiety, you will find out that challenges in life are meant to be there and that you will be able to find solutions to problems in ways that you might have never thought were in you. There is a great quote from D.H. Lawrence that explains what I’m talking about. “When we get out of the glass bottles of our ego, and when we escape like squirrels turning in the cages of our personality and get into the forests again, we shall shiver with cold and fright but things will happen to us so that we don't know ourselves. Cool, unlying life will rush in, and passion will make our bodies taut with power...”
4. APPRECIATING MATURITY: Hopefully, you have matured through many of life’s experiences and you have become more confident in your decision-making. You’re at an age where you know what interests you have, and almost more importantly you know and understand what you don’t want to waste time or money on. This doesn’t’ mean avoiding or ignoring new experiences, but I’ve seen enough temples or other sites that they just don’t interest me nearly as much as someone else.
3. CONFIDENCE: Once you’ve made the decision to take a sabbatical, quit your job, or leave in direction without a return ticket, that decision brings confidence and confidence is attractive on every level–from relationships to a professional setting–this is a life skill that will stay with you and continue to develop in your adventures.
2. PROFESSIONALISM: You have had a chance to experience the corporate setting or gain experience in a career field, which makes now an excellent time to take those skills on the road and turn them in to commodities. Even those skills that may not be viewed as valuable (i.e. construction, restaurant, barista, etc) these are still skills that often will pay more when considering cost of living in other areas around the world. Imagine making the same wages, but living on a fraction of your earnings, all while surfing every day in Brazil or diving off of Bali.
1. EXPERIENCE GAINED IS PRICELESS: When you stop and think what questions and things are asked in a job interview: What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Do you feel you are a good communicator? Can you work under pressure? Etc and etc. Once you leave behind those so-called securities and overcome the fear and anxiety, you will find out that challenges in life are meant to be there and that you will be able to find solutions to problems in ways that you might have never thought were in you. There is a great quote from D.H. Lawrence that explains what I’m talking about. “When we get out of the glass bottles of our ego, and when we escape like squirrels turning in the cages of our personality and get into the forests again, we shall shiver with cold and fright but things will happen to us so that we don't know ourselves. Cool, unlying life will rush in, and passion will make our bodies taut with power...”
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